Let’s get this out of the way, this tablet has mediocre and outdated specifications. It runs Android 4.1, has a 1.5Ghz dual processor, and only 8 GB of built-in storage. This is not a top of the line tablet, but it should be fine for basic internet browsing, reading, and music streaming.
So why the news post? This tablet has a unique feature that sets it apart from others I’ve seen before. It has a built-in HDTV tuner and antenna to receive over the air transmissions. Depending on where you live, there may be several free HDTV channels that you could watch on the tablet. This could be an excellent option for mass transit commuters or for sports fans who can’t always be home for the game.
Priced at $139.99, I think the tablet is a good price. You’re getting a 7 inch 720P TV and a budget tablet. If you are interested in the tablet and curious what channels you could get, you can visit the FCC’s DTV website. For more information on the tablet, visit ThinkGeek.
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It’s been my experience that moving digital tuners frequently lose signal quality which severely impacts the tuner’s ability to display the video/audio.
Remember, you are inside a metal box frequently changing the angle of the antenna (road curves) with constant variations of blockage (trees, buildings, bridges, mountains, etc). So, unless you are fairly close to a transmitter, using this for “mass transit commut(ing)” you’ll probably be unhappy with the results.
However, stationary, they seem to work ‘decent’. Better if you yank out the built in antenna and install a DIY adapter (if it doesn’t already allow for that) and get a decent off-the-shelf HD antenna — they have some decent ones that are very small/thin.
I’m betting we’ll see more of these tuners in ‘low-mid’ ranged tablets like we see FM radio tuners in low-mid ranged phones — the hardware is getting built in to many “do everything” chips rather than have single “component” chips.
i like the idea, but i have never been ever able to receive a strong TV signal from such a tiny antenna (got a USB tuner that came with one) it’s probably cool near a transmitter but otherwise….